The Museum is located within a prestigious historical building itself evidence of the ancient history of Mazara del Vallo: the Church of Sant’Egidio property of the Brotherhood founded in 1384.The museum preserves archaeological relicts of the territory including several commercial amphorae and objects related to maritime trade that have always characterized Mazara The finding that gives the name to the museum is extraordinary: an exceptional bronze and lead statue portraying a satyr performing a perpetual turn in a wild dance which was found in the Sicilian Channel by local fishermen in the late ’90s www.mazaravalley.info  The Diocesan Museum is located in the eighteenth-century Seminario dei Chierici We designed this site to help you plan the perfect holiday Find all the information you need in one place Distretto Turistico Sicilia OccidentaleVia Mafalda di Savoia 26 91100 Trapani (TP)info@westofsicily.comCF: 93064690816 click on the link you will find in the message You will receive a response from interested parties as soon as possible You are sending the email to: West of Sicily The investigations were conducted by the economic and financial police unit of Palermo the financial police of the Palermo provincial command executed an order for the application of personal precautionary measures issued by the investigating judge of the Court of Palermo at the request of the local Public Prosecutor's Office - Dda ten under house arrest and one subject to the obligation to remain in the municipality of residence searches are being carried out at the homes and other places available to the suspects for the crimes of mafia-style criminal association conducted by the Palermo economic and financial police unit have shed light on the illicit plots carried out by the Mazara del Vallo (TP) mafia family revealing the top-down relationships existing between the affiliates the phases that led to the rise of a subject Acting as the operational arm of the district boss (currently detained) the point of reference for carrying out the most diverse criminal activities (including collecting unpaid debts settling disputes and organising drug trafficking between Palermo and the territories falling within the district) the existence of a penetrating power of economic control of the territory has been found exercised through the mafia management of grazing areas and bankruptcy auctions the investigations have also allowed us to document several episodes of violence related to the failure to respect agreements made for the division of some properties it has been possible to reconstruct the criminal dynamics that have favored the development of a widespread network of supermarkets attributable to a well-known entrepreneur from Mazara del Vallo; the latter thanks to a direct relationship with the historical summit of the Mafia district of Mazara del Vallo since the mid-2000s has been able to expand his business sphere in various product sectors acquiring the ownership and management of numerous companies In exchange for the support guaranteed to him by the association the same entrepreneur allegedly assured Cosa Nostra the hiring of affiliates and their relatives financial aid for the start-up of new economic activities as well as the purchase of goods put up for auction and attributable to contiguous subjects so that they would return to their possession which involved the use of over 150 yellow flames demonstrates the constant attention and ongoing commitment of the Guardia di Finanza in the context of the investigations delegated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate in order to counter any possible attempt at mafia infiltration in the economic-productive fabric with a view to guaranteeing the market the necessary conditions of legality and competitiveness it should be noted that pending final judgment the principle of the presumption of innocence applies to all those under investigation Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram Ci dispiace la pagina che stai cercando non esiste più This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page in the countryside of Mazara del Vallo and Marsala the land serves as a theater for silent and pervasive control a few remnants of Cosa Nostra dictate who may graze their animals and who may not imposing their law through violence and intimidation the old interests of the mafia continue to live on through the heirs of ancient land bosses The latest investigation by the DDA of Palermo which resulted in 18 precautionary measures sheds light on those areas between Marsala and Mazara where Cosa Nostra lays its hands Why is Control Over Grazing Lands Vital for Cosa Nostra Controlling grazing lands means controlling the local economy In a region where livestock farming and agriculture are critical activities Cosa Nostra transforms pastures into a resource to be divided among affiliates and accomplices and uses violence against those who dare to resist This control is not only economic but also symbolic: the mafia replaces the state imposing itself as the sole arbiter of order and justice Clear examples include the Barracco family compelled to give up part of a plot purchased at an auction Both cases show how Cosa Nostra in the province of Trapani exploits pastures to strengthen its power over the territory The Control System: From the Gondolas to the Centonze Family The control of grazing areas is a well-established system it was in the hands of the late boss Vito Gondola who inherited the role of supervisor of the lands deciding whom to entrust them to and punishing those who opposed Burzotta is part of a family deeply rooted in Cosa Nostra He is the brother of Diego Santino Burzotta a notorious mafia hitman sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders definitively convicted of mafia association previously involved in a trial for mafia association was acquitted due to contradictory testimony from collaborating witnesses recent investigations describe him as an active and influential figure in the Mazara mandamento both involved in intimidating breeders and directly managing the areas would have also contributed to the division of pastures while Domenico Centonze and his father Pietro Centonze were tasked with resolving disputes Wiretaps collected in the Palermo GIP's order reveal meetings between the mafiosi where pasture assignments and methods for intimidating breeders are established Only those approved by Cosa Nostra can graze while those who dare to challenge are threatened and forcibly removed Methods for Resolving Disputes Cosa Nostra resolves disputes over pastures Affiliates often resort to punitive expeditions to impose mafia will Domenico Centonze suggests violent actions against those who do not comply with orders as demonstrated by Ignazio Di Vita's intervention in the dispute between the Centonze family and other breeders agreements are sought to maintain balance within the organization The Barracco Case The Barracco family's ordeal known as "the mice," is one of the most emblematic cases of mafia control over grazing areas the family settled in the pastures of Mazara del Vallo the Gondola family decided to oust them and entrust the lands to the Centonze family from Marsala with the support of Pietro Burzotta and Paolo Apollo led the operations to expel the Barraccos from the lands The Centonze family resorted to threats and physical violence to force the Barraccos to leave the pastures This dispute reveals the complexity of internal dynamics within Cosa Nostra While the Gondolas and the Centonze consolidate their power Emilio Alario's intervention on behalf of the Barraccos generates further conflicts highlighting tensions between mafia families over land control The Tumbarello Case The Tumbarello family faces the same power logic Brothers Gaspare and Giovanni Tumbarello win a plot at an auction but the purchase conflicts with the interests of Nino Bilello Domenico Centonze intervenes with threats and physical assaults against Gaspare Tumbarello forcing him to cede half of the land to Bilello the brother of the incarcerated boss Dario Messina the Tumbarellos accept the land division during a mafia meeting The Law of the Strongest The Barracco and Tumbarello cases reveal a consolidated system where Cosa Nostra imposes its will through force Decisions are made by mafia leaders and imposed without the possibility of appeal a tool to extend the control of the mandamento and strengthen alliances The control of pastures in the Mazara del Vallo mandamento is one of the many expressions of the power of Cosa Nostra and Alessandro Messina emerge as protagonists of a system that exploits the land to consolidate mafia dominion which should be a resource and employment for the community instead become grounds for violence and abuse The mafia decides who can work and who cannot imposing its power and replacing the state i paramenti sacri rivestono un ruolo di primaria importanza  Three members of the criminal organization targeted by the "El Rais" operation carried out by the Catania District Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office Mancano pochi giorni all'inizio del 72° Raduno Nazionale dei Bersaglieri che dall'8 all'11 maggio 2025 trasformerà Marsala in un palcoscenico di storia dedicato a uno dei corpi militari più rappresentativi.. 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LOGIN Downloadable PDFs are a benefit of an FP subscription This article is an Insider exclusive Contact us at [email protected] to learn about upgrade options unlocking the ability to gift this article Italy—When Domenico Asaro heard that some Sicilian fishermen had been kidnapped off the Libyan coast at the beginning of September As a fisherman himself from Mazara del Vallo a seaside town on the southwestern coast of Sicily “In the 40 years I’ve worked as a fisherman I’ve heard of over 100 attacks by Libyan authorities against my colleagues,” Asaro said as he walked through Mazara’s port beside dozens of docked fishing vessels “We all feel that both Italy and the EU have failed to protect us.” Libyan militias stopped and seized two Italian fishing vessels operating 35 miles off the coast of Benghazi a port city in eastern Libya that is currently controlled by General Khalifa Haftar who were accused of invading Libya’s waters have been held inside detention facilities in Benghazi while Italy and Libya continue to negotiate their release The 180-mile stretch of the Mediterranean sea that separates Sicily from Libya has been a diplomatic battleground in Italian-Libyan relations for years—especially since 2011 when a civil war divided Libya into two factions: the United Nations-recognized government of Tripoli the European Union has failed to form a unilateral diplomatic approach to the country combined with Europe’s growing worries over migration has allowed Libya to quietly claim a bigger portion of the Mediterranean: a controversial move that has put the lives and livelihoods of Italian fishermen at greater risk for almost a decade The maritime dispute dates back to the 1970s when Libya began using force to protect its self-proclaimed fishing waters off the Gulf of Sidra from foreign fishing vessels when then-Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi unilaterally extended the country’s waters from 12 to 74 miles offshore Those claims were always formally rejected by main EU member states a Libya analyst at the NATO Defense College Foundation in Rome many maritime law experts still consider them illegitimate “Territorial waters can be extended up to 74 miles according to the 1982 Montego Bay Convention “The extension of that principle to the closed waters of the Mediterranean basin is debatable.” we have no choice but to keep sailing these troubled waters because that’s where red prawns live.”Despite this lack of formal recognition Libyans have continued to treat foreign fishing in that 74-mile stretch as a territorial invasion—and as a theft of their natural resources to be punished through detention and bail payment That’s a serious problem for fishermen from Mazara del Vallo who specialize in red prawns which live 600 meters below sea level and fetch some of the highest prices among crustaceans in Europe They often have to sail farther south to find the prawns toward international waters and into that disputed area where they risk attacks from the Libyan coast guard because they know it’s the only way to make enough money back home “Our families’ income has depended on fishing for generations because that’s where red prawns live,” said Asaro who was among the first Sicilian fishermen to experience detention—and a show trial—in Libya around 50 miles off the coast of the city of Misrata the Libyan coast guard chased Asaro’s vessel for four hours before they began shooting at his crew who were then jailed in Libya for six months when he was released after eight days on an 8,000-euro bail he paid out of his own pocket According to Distretto della Pesca a Sicilian cooperative of the local fishing industry about 40 fishermen have been injured and detained in the past 25 years and the release of each one has cost up to 50,000 euros a price usually paid by the fishermen themselves The Italian government hasn’t ignored the issue but since civil war broke out in Libya in 2011 Italy and the EU have lost much of their influence in the country And the bloc’s migration policies haven’t helped the kidnappings were mostly a show of force that would resolve with a phone call from former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi a professor of Mediterranean geopolitics at Italy’s School of Diplomacy But the country has lost the influence it had under Qaddafi’s rule and the new leaders know they can advance bigger demands because they have larger bargaining powers,” Mercuri said In the case of the 18 fishermen captured in September Haftar has asked Rome not simply to pay bail who have been detained in Sicily since immigration prosecutors in Catania sentenced them to 30 years in jail for human trafficking friends and relatives of prisoners on both sides of the Mediterranean have staged protests to pressure both governments to accelerate their release But with a second coronavirus wave becoming Italy’s most pressing priority the negotiations have been placed on the back burner.) The EU’s migration policies haven’t helped the fishermen’s position.The EU’s policies haven’t helped the fishermen’s position The EU has kept prioritizing migration containment by signing agreements with Libya’s coast guard over proper nation-building and regional-stabilization policies—with mixed results non-EU powers have begun to exert more political leverage in the country “It’s other players that now have a greater influence among Libyan factions Rome has tried to pressure Haftar to free the fishermen via his backers: Russia The EU’s inability to see Libya outside the lens of migration has also allowed the country to take control of a bigger portion of the Mediterranean the International Maritime Organization assigned Libyan a search-and-rescue zone to manage migration fluxes which Libyans have begun to consider their own territory The EU is even deputizing Libyan authorities under Sarraj to stop migrants from leaving Libyan waters giving them further power beyond the country’s coast “The larger stretch of sea falls into this definition the more this is a Libyan—and not European—responsibility,” Marcuzzi said allowing Libyans to assert larger maritime sovereignty has allowed them the opportunity to advance claims over natural resources and given them a base for potential military and trade movements deeper in the Mediterranean Sea The migrant crisis has led Italy to support Sarraj’s government in Tripoli and has even pushed it to tolerate Libya’s right to restrict access to fishing near its coasts Since Rome and Tripoli signed an EU-backed agreement in 2017 to curb migrant flows across the Mediterranean vessels from the EU have been barred from operating in the 74 miles off the Libyan coast and Italy has been helping to train and equip the Libyan coast guard—one of the groups that has been detaining its own fishermen have a unique perspective on the shifting geopolitical arrangements Even though venturing toward Libya was always risky they say that a lot has changed since the EU began forging ties with Libyans to contain migration Now as soon as we are 50 miles from the Libyan coasts It seems as if they prefer to leave us with a smaller piece of sea to fish rather than irritating Libyans who could then retaliate through migration deals,” said Roberto Figuccia another fisherman from Mazara del Vallo who’s been captured by the Libyan coast guard and detained in Libya twice “It seems as if they prefer to leave us with a smaller piece of sea to fish rather than irritating Libyans.”Figuccia and his colleagues are demanding that the Italian government use some of the resources it has set aside to manage migrant flows to also protect its own citizens and economic interests by providing a few Italian coast guard vessels to escort them and help them work in a safer environment Rome’s inaction has also contributed to brewing anti-EU sentiments in the fishing industry where Rome and Brussels are now seen as accomplices of the illegitimate arrests “If the Mediterranean has become a battleground it is not only because of migrants,” said Asaro who recently ran—and lost—in local elections with the Lega party which is known for its far-right and anti-EU rhetoric would stand up for Italian citizens’ rights over EU agreements Stefania D’Ignoti is an independent reporter based between Italy and the Middle East. She covers conflict and migration, and her work has appeared in various publications, including the Guardian, Time, the Economist, and Al Jazeera. X: @stef_dgn FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day Specialty rates for students and faculty. Lock in your rates for longer. Unlock powerful intelligence for your team. Christmas Song Aims to Inspire Peace in the Holy Land Pope’s Message of Hope Launched into Space to Orbit Earth Here is Pope Francis’ Schedule for World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon Marian Apparitions Must Always Point to Jesus By Junno Arocho Esteves • Catholic News Service • Posted January 3 where the Mafia has had a significant presence for decades announced a temporary ban on the naming of godparents for baptisms and confirmations Bishop Domenico Mogavero of Mazara del Vallo said the ban would be in effect “ad experimentum” (on an experimental basis) until the end of 2024 “The office of godparent in the two sacraments of baptism and confirmation has lost its original meaning limiting itself to a purely formal liturgical presence that is not followed by the accompaniment of the baptized and the confirmed on the path of human and spiritual growth,” the bishop wrote confirmed or welcomed into the church as adults will be joined by their parents or the person who prepared them for the sacrament the Diocese of Catania introduced a similar three-year ban due to the use of godparents as means to strengthen family bonds rather than as an aide in the spiritual development of those who are baptized or confirmed Mazara del Vallo was once the home of the late Sicilian mob boss Mariano Agate who led several Mafia families in the region It was also where mob boss Gaetano Riina — head of the Corleone clan which inspired the last name of the fictional mafia family depicted in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” — was arrested in 2011 Pope Francis has strongly criticized the Mafia and its use of popular religiosity and violence to exploit the poor and the suffering the pope said members of the Mafia “are not in communion with God; they are excommunicated.” the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development also announced the formation of a working group that would aid bishops in the excommunication of those involved in organized crime CatholicPhilly.com works to strengthen the connections between people families and communities every day by delivering the news people need to know about the Catholic Church you and hundreds of other people become part of our mission to inform form in the Catholic faith and inspire the thousands of readers who visit every month Please join in the church's vital mission of communications by offering a gift in whatever amount that you can ― a single gift of $40 Your gift will strengthen the fabric of our entire Catholic community and sustain CatholicPhilly.com as your trusted news source PREVIOUS: Dublin archbishop: ‘Radical change is coming in the church’ USCCB: Statement of USCCB on Vatican’s Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings Pope Francis’ May 2023 Prayer Intention | Watch Video Catholic Charities of Philadelphia Returns to Roots Dan Tarrant Brings God to the World Through Catholic Filmmaking The Dancing Satyr of Mazara del Vallo will have new lighting: the Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity and iGuzzini announced it.Starting in June the masterpiece displayed in the Satyr Museum will be enhanced thanks to applied technology that will allow the light to be varied to improve the perception of the sculpture even for the visually impaired according to methods and procedures chosen by the museum Energy Manager of the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity said: “The lighting project of the Dancing Satyr statue in Mazara del Vallo is part of a broader strategy of the Department which intends to enhance its monumental and artistic heritage through the use of light as a tool to enhance structures and forms as has already happened with the LED relamping of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and for the Ancient Theater in Taormina and as will happen soon in addition to the Dancing Satyr of Mazara del Vallo with Temple ”C“ in Selinunte.”  Investigations into the complex web of accomplices surrounding Matteo Messina Denaro continue to unveil new details The Palermo Prosecutor's Office has closed the investigation concerning Giuseppe Di Giorgi particularly concerning the roles of garages and other defendants The Keys and Unresolved Mysteries In the Alfa Romeo Giulietta used by the deceased mafia boss last September a key was found that allows access to garages and the courtyard of a condominium on via Castelvetrano The same keys were also held by individuals close to Messina Denaro Rosalia Messina Denaro (the boss's sister) the municipal worker who lent his identity to the boss during his hiding One of the garages linked to the siblings Giuseppe and Sabrina Caradonna leads to a space equipped as a mini-apartment Although biological traces and fingerprints were isolated This fuels the mystery about the real use of these spaces during Messina Denaro's long period in hiding The Olive Grove Key Further doubts arise around Bonafede's key besides opening the garages on via Castelvetrano also allows access to an olive grove in the countryside of Campobello di Mazara Bonafede has denied knowing anything about the garages Bonafede's sister-in-law and Messina Denaro supposedly met searches extended to the homes of the Caradonna siblings Inside the master bedroom's walk-in closet of Sabrina Caradonna Giuseppe Di Giorgi claimed he found the weapon ten years ago while jogging near a railway crossing investigations revealed that the gun had the same serial number as a weapon purchased in 1996 by a carabiniere in service in Trapani Charges Against Giuseppe Di Giorgi For Giuseppe Di Giorgi and assistants Bruno Brucoli and Gianluca De Leo have signed the notice concluding the investigations Charges include possession of an illegal weapon and procured non-compliance with a sentence Although the Riesame court had annulled the weapons possession charge The next step will be the request for indictment Letters from Prison An additional disturbing element concerns a letter found in a drawer at the Di Giorgi-Caradonna couple's home Sender: “Massimo Antonino Sfraga.” The letters originate from the Poggioreale prison in Naples were involved in an investigation into the mafia's control of the transport of fruit and vegetable products to the markets of Campania revealing connections between Messina Denaro Ongoing Investigations For the other defendants Authorities are working to clarify the real role of the entire building on via Castelvetrano and adjacent spaces It remains to be uncovered whether those garages were merely hideouts or part of a more elaborate system to support the boss's hiding and the activities of his network  The influence of organized crime in Marsala and Mazara is evident from an investigation conducted by the Economic and Financial Police Unit of Palermo under the coordination of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) The investigation has led to 18 precautionary measures: 7 arrests It has uncovered the economic and criminal control system orchestrated by the Mazara del Vallo mafia command Mafia Control Over the Territory The investigation revealed how the Mazara del Vallo mafia exerted comprehensive control over the area using coercive methods to dominate strategic sectors A key aspect was control over bankruptcy auctions and grazing areas with documented incidents of violence against those who did not comply with mafia-imposed agreements The affiliates used threats to force farmers and entrepreneurs to surrender goods or money thereby strengthening their economic hold over the territory Names of the Accused The court ordered imprisonment for Aurelio Anzelmo House arrest was ordered for Giancarlo Nicolò Angileri Lorenzo Buscaino was placed under mandatory residence Mazara Mafia Command The Mazara mafia command has a long history of dominance in the Trapani area a renowned boss who led during the height of the organization's power leadership passed to figures like Vito Gondola maintaining control until his death in 2017 organizing a rigid communication system through "pizzini" for Matteo Messina Denaro power shifted to individuals like Pietro Burzotta who continued to manage grazing land control and resolve disputes with mafia methods The Centonze Cousins Cousins Domenico and Pietro Centonze are accused of playing key roles in the mafia command directly managing agricultural resources in the Grinesti area they allegedly forced farmers to surrender their lands Interceptions have revealed plans to forcibly remove farmers These cousins also maintained firearms to reinforce their power discussing pasture management and strengthening the charges against them a businessman from Marsala previously convicted in 2012 for his role as a mafia liaison in the fruit and vegetable sector is accused of aggravated aiding for mediating an extortion case related to land purchases son-in-law of the late boss Vito Gondola and closely connected to Matteo Messina Denaro allegedly inherited control over grazing lands imposing mafia dominance through violence and threats Rigged Auctions Auction rigging is another significant aspect of the investigation including Domenico Centonze and Michele Marino preventing transparent competition and favoring mafia acquisition of assets charged with external conspiracy in a mafia association is identified as a central figure in the economic consolidation of the command He allegedly ensured mafia protection for his business activities in exchange for financial support and favors to mafia affiliates This operation marks a significant blow to Cosa Nostra in Trapani dismantling established mechanisms of mafia control over strategic sectors like bankruptcy auctions You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed The design of the store was supervised by Evoluzione Brico staff and coordinated by category manager Giuseppe Lido, reintroducing the tried-and-true Bricolarge format on a 1,100-square-meter display area formerly occupied by the LIDL supermarkets sign which will be overseen by Giuseppe Scaturro as sales manager counts on a residential catchment area of about 50,000 inhabitants and is located in a tourist area with many second homes e present a large area dedicated to the bathroom sector which is set to expand in the coming period and website in this browser for the next time I comment A figure that encompasses the period 2023-2030 and will enable the Group's brands to considerably increase the number of stores and reach 10 billion in sales continuing the development throughout the country The Dutch brand kicks off the new year by opening a new store in Lazio on January 5 The store is run by a staff of 20 new employees The news published in Ferreteria y Actualidad about the sale of Bricorama stores in Spain (we had already talked about this) to the Bricofer group A new brand for the third largest Italian group in the modern retail industry joining the pet store world “Animali che Passione”  is the result of market studies and analyses of some Selex partners Ricevi le notizie in anteprima nella tua casella di posta Iscriviti alla newsletter di TEN has applied for a 30-year maritime concession to build and operate a 750 floating wind farm offshore Sicily Regolo Rinnovabili submitted the application to the Port Authority of Mazara del Vallo to install approximately 50 wind turbines with a nominal power of 15 MW each and a rotor diameter of 236 with an accompanying cable and grid infrastructure The electricity generated by the wind turbines would be collected and delivered to the Italian grid via two offshore substations The Mazara Del Vallo 4 wind farm would be located at a minimum distance of approximately 44 kilometres from the Sicilian coast The wind farm would cover an area of around 226 square kilometres At the beginning of this year, another Italian developer, Mazar Wind Srl, submitted an application for a maritime concession to build and operate a 1.1 GW floating wind farm located at least 50 kilometres off the coast of Mazara del Vallo Back in February, Ninfea Rinnovabili submitted a maritime concession application for the 750 MW Scicli floating wind farm in the Malta Channel A month later, the same company submitted another maritime concession application but this time for a 795 MW floating offshore wind project off the coast of Sicily When it comes to Regolo Rinnovabili, the firm is also seeking to build two floating wind farms off the coast of Sardinia would be built off the northwest of Sardinia while the second one would be located off the south-western coast of Sardinia Get in front of your target audience in one move OffshoreWIND.biz is read by thousands of offshore wind professionals daily Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Leveraging 20 years of experience with offshore windDecember 2023 will forever mark a milestone in our company history as we became part of the world-wide CS WIND group The acquisition goes beyond a mere change in ownership; it marks a leap into a future where our combined strengths will pave the way for optimized production […] circumstance can also make him a saint – even if he curses because he hasn’t caught any fish word of the catch spreads like wildfire and all the other boats turn up fan out and begin combing his little patch of the Mediterranean who start shooting as soon as you come within 74 miles of their coast They throw you in prison and serve you leftovers in an iron trough like an animal unless the Italian secret service arrives with some aid and comfort “They fired 96 shots at us and then rammed us,” says Domenico Asaro a fishing-boat captain from Mazara del Vallo He’s convinced his diabetes was caused by that day of terror the Egyptians set the limit of their exclusive fishing zone at 200 miles and if you’re a “thief” and cross the line they confiscate your boat and your entire catch who don’t stop when they see a migrant boat because business can’t wait They’ve got tuna to take into port and sell to the Japanese for 100 euros a kilo Let people die in the middle of the sea?” say the fishermen of Mazara del Vallo a town located between Trapani and Sciacca in Sicily Their 80-strong fleet of 30-metre motor trawlers is just a third of its former size the EU ship-scrapping programme and competition from lawless North Africans in the last 20 years they have saved thousands of migrants in the so-called Mammellone sea area These fishermen are apostles in that stretch of water between North Africa and Italy – which is stained red with shrimps and drifting life jackets Here they run into military patrol boats and NGO ships But it’s these Sicilian captains who venture into every bay and casting their nets down 800 metres in places where they shouldn’t they just let them die of old age,” they say jokingly The agreement with the shipowners is clear: if you fish you get a 20 per cent share to be divided among the crew according to role and seniority which is less than 1,000 euros per month for the seamen and a bit more for the captain “Mazara used to be the top market for Jacuzzi tub sales in Italy Captains built three-storey houses with gold sinks Those days are long gone,” says Francesco Mezzapelle This is why these fishermen may swear when they see a boat full of migrants but their actions show they’ve got hearts of gold lose out on red shrimp worth 60 euros per kilo hoping not to damage their boats during the operation It’s like throwing a minimum of 5,000 euros a day into the sea They can’t just send out an SOS and wait for the military patrol ships The migrants’ dinghies are assembled on the beaches of North Africa with glue dirtied by sand and they start falling apart after only a few miles at sea “This is one of the things that struck me the most The arm of a sailor from a Mazara fishing boat everything at risk,” says Roselena Ramistella a photographer from Gela who was a winner in the Sony World Photography Awards and went to encounter these men in person (she took the photos in this feature) “I’ve waited an eternity for the Italian patrol boats to arrive in Maltese waters because the harbour master in Valletta didn’t answer our calls,” says captain Carlo Giarratano who played a key role in one of the rescue missions in July Which is more important?” Pino Russo – who has 50 years of experience at sea and whose boat has been confiscated 10 times in Tunisia – has also seen his fair share of incidents He’s been out of action for a few months after surgery for a herniated cervical disc and when the Tunisian shipowner calls asking him to lead his fleet “There’s a strong desire to quit,” he says “The sea consumes you.” He was the one who discovered a stretch of the Mediterranean north of Misurata abounding with red shrimp between 22 and 72 kilometres from the coast Fishermen used to call that area “the desert” because they never caught anything there A flare for signaling distress in a perilous situation at sea and he still remembers the Coast Guard telling him That’s an order.” But the dinghy full of people was deflated on one side and slowly sinking Hours passed with dramatic phone calls to the authorities do what your heart tells you,” he was ultimately told Captain and ship owner Mimmo Asaro and his crew In February 2017 during a long fishing expedition they spotted a raft with 174 people in trouble Leggete anche l'intervista a Carola Rackete che a giugno è stata arrestata per essersi opposta agli ordini delle autorità italiane e aver tratto in salvo rifugiati libici da un gommone portandoli al sicuro. Release of 18 men seized by Khalifa Haftar’s forces ends standoff between countries Eighteen Italian fishermen, held captive in Libya for more than 100 days ending a political standoff between the two countries over the fate of the men The prolonged imprisonment of the group had become an embarrassment for Italy’s government with critics accusing ministers of failing to stand up to Khalifa Haftar the military commander who holds sway in eastern Libya flew to Benghazi for the release of the fishermen who were on board two Sicilian boats that were seized by Haftar’s forces on 1 September “We received phone calls confirming their imminent release,” Salvatore Quinci the mayor of the Sicilian port town of Mazara del Vallo Di Maio wrote on Facebook: “Our fishermen are free In a few hours they will be able to hug their families and loved ones again Thanks to AISE [Italy’s external intelligence and security agency] and to all the diplomatic corps who worked to bring them home.” who have held several protests demanding their release gathered outside Mazara del Vallo’s town hall after hearing the news when they were approached by militia belonging to Haftar’s Libyan National Army the major military force in the east of the country The militia accused them of fishing in Libyan territorial waters and from there they were taken to a prison close to Benghazi The men were accused of fishing for prized red prawns which can fetch between €50 and €70 a kilo in a dispute that has dragged on between Sicily and Libya since the mid-1990s which rules nationally in coalition with the Five Star Movement presented a motion this week urging the government to move quickly to secure their release 18 fishermen are coming home,” the senators Weeks after their capture, Haftar reportedly offered to release the men in exchange for Italy freeing four Libyan footballers convicted of human trafficking Seizures of Italian fishing boats became more frequent in 2005 when Muammar Gaddafi unilaterally decided to extend Libya’s territorial waters from 12 to 74 miles offshore According to data from Sicily’s Distretto della Pesca a cooperative that unites stakeholders in the fishing industry in the past 25 years more than 50 boats have been seized and two confiscated while about 30 fishermen were detained and dozens of people injured Italy is helping to train and equip an enemy in a long-running dispute Fishermen fear these same red prawns could cost them their lives Since the mid-90s when Libya began protecting its fishing waters from foreign vessels with the use of force a little-known conflict has been rumbling in the 180 miles of sea that separates Libya from Italy which are also the fishing grounds for one of the world’s most prized crustaceans Domenico “Mimmo” Asaro has fished the troubled waters of the Mediterranean for 40 years and was one of the first to come under attack On 22 March 1996 his boat was flanked by a Libyan coastguard vessel just under 50 miles off the port of Misrata a bullet grazed him and blood was streaming down the back of his neck He ordered his crew to take shelter out of sight as machine gun fire rippled across the bridge Captain Mimmo Asaro on a fishing boat at the port of Mazara del Vallo In 1996 his boat was machine-gunned by Libyans He was arrested and detained for six months accused of fishing for red prawns in Libyan waters Photograph: Alessio Mamo/GuardianAsaro and his crew were brought in by the coastguard and jailed in Misrata for six months “was having to tell my father that I had lost the fishing boat that had been his and my grandfather’s The red prawn war is erasing our history.” The fishing grounds for the red prawn stretch south and west of Sicily towards north Africa fishing by foreign vessels is perceived as a territorial invasion as well as an exploitation in the last 25 years more than 50 boats have been seized about 30 fishermen detained and dozens of people injured It is not lost on the fisherman that since Rome and Tripoli signed an agreement in 2017, with EU backing, to curb migrant flows across the same stretch of water, Italy has been helping to train and equip the Libyan coastguard The majority of the Italian fishermen live in Mazara del Vallo home to the country’s largest fishing fleet “It lives in muddy expanses between 400 and 700 metres under water and in specific areas of the Mediterranean,” explains Bartolomeo Marmoreo “The extreme depth of its habitat enriches the prawn with mineral salts is one of the most prized food items in Mediterranean cooking and why it is exported the world over.” A one kilo case of red prawns frozen is sold for €50 to €70 Photograph: Alessio Mamo/GuardianEvery day at the port of Mazara French and British suppliers queue up in front of the warehouses where top-quality red prawns are stocked and packaged in 1kg trays But things have changed since the red prawn war heated up. “At the end of the 90s there were over 350 fishing vessels in Mazara,” says Tommaso Macaddino, 49, the regional secretary of the labour union UILA Pesca Few fishermen are willing to risk their lives for the red prawn.” Seizures of fishing boats became more frequent in 2005 when Muammar Gaddafi unilaterally decided to extend Libya’s territorial waters from 12 miles offshore to 74 “That’s when the real problems started,” says Francesco Mezzapelle a journalist and sociologist in Mazara and author of a book on the red prawn war “It was a clear violation of international law Such a unilateral extension can be good for countries on the ocean but not in the Mediterranean where dozens of countries coexist around the same sea.” Seizures are often carried out by the Libyans with the sole aim of receiving up to €50,000 from Rome for the release of each vessel It has contributed to growing anti-EU sentiments among fishermen, with Rome and Brussels seen as “traitors” over the Libya deal, which Italy has announced it intends to renew Last April Asaro ran unsuccessfully in local elections for Matteo Salvini’s far-right League Trawling for the red prawn with 1km-long nets the boats need at least 40 tonnes of diesel fuel “It’s a lot of money that can go up in smoke if the Libyans decide to impound your boat,” says Asaro Milan-based developer Ninfea Rinnovabili has submitted another maritime concession application this time for a 795 MW floating offshore wind project off the coast of Sicily The Mazarra del Vallo 2 wind farm will feature 53 wind turbines with an individual capacity of 15 MW and a rotor diameter of 236 metres installed at least 52 kilometres offshore Mazarra del Vallo The wind farm would cover an area of around 263 square kilometres has submitted an application for a maritime concession to build and operate a 1.1 GW floating wind farm located at least 50 kilometres off the coast of Mazara del Vallo Ninfea Rinnovabili submitted a maritime concession application for the 750 MW Scicli floating wind farm in the Malta Channel Located at least 27 kilometres off the coast of Sicily the Scicli wind farm will feature 50 15 MW wind turbines and two floating offshore substations Ninfea Rinnovabili also plans to develop the 34-turbine San Pietro North floating wind farm offshore Sardinia Malta’s long-distance runner Andrew Grech beat club team-mate Christian Micallef to victory at the 15th edition of Maratonina di Sicilia which was held at Mazara del Vallo on Sunday The 44-year-old Evolve Endurance Club runner completed the half marathon in a time of one hour 13 minutes and 51 seconds while his team-mate Micallef took second place in a time of 1:14.39 completed the podium when clocking a time of 1:19.51 The two Maltese athletes dominated the race from start to finish as they led the way throughout with Grech stepping up his pace in the final part of the race to secure victory Read full story on sport.timesofmalta.com please register for free or log in to your account Italy's navy on Thursday rescued an Italian fisherman who was wounded after the Libyan coastguard fired on his boat mayor of the fishing port of Mazaro del Vallo in southwestern Sicily said members of the coastguard shot at the fisherman's boat off the coast of Misrata Quinci said the navy ship managed to rescue the man He added that the incident marked the second time in a week that Italian fishing boats have been shot at Residents of Mazara del Vallo for decades have gone out near the Libyan coast to catch red prawns considered a delicacy and prized by restaurants One kilogramme (2.2 pounds) of the prawns can fetch up to 60 euros ($72) at the fish market However a territorial dispute has led to a number of serious incidents in recent years 18 fishermen from Sicily -- eight Italians two Indonesians and two Senegalese -- were captured on grounds they were fishing in Libyan waters Tensions over fishing rights between Sicily and its North African neighbour were fanned in 2005 when Libya's then leader Moamer Kadhafi proclaimed the country's protected fishing zone extended 74 nautical miles out from the coast The civil war in Libya has further exacerbated tensions with Italy which advises its fishermen to avoid the contested zone                  Oldham Council’s commitment to building communities and spreading peace has seen it become the first local authority in the UK to sign a European declaration council representatives and volunteers from Peace Talks Oldham have signed the ‘Pledge to Peace’ – a commitment of intent that will see Oldham put in place projects and actions promoting a culture of peace Oldham’s first citizen was presented with a coat of arms from Mazara Del Vallo a Sicilian city which recently held an international festival to celebrate peace and culture Pledge to Peace is a European Parliament initiative which aims to create a network of people with a “shared vision of the value of peace promote and communicate tangible projects and initiatives” that can promote peace within their communities It complements Oldham’s commitment to its co-operative values Cllr Ur-Rehman said: “This signing reinforces Oldham’s positive work to promote peace throughout the borough “The Council raised an Oldham Peace Flag and in the same week members of an Oldham delegation delivered an 8,303 name petition to Downing Street Other events have seen the Council working with Peace Talks Oldham and partners to host the first Oldham Peace Day last September and a peace conference last October to identify practical ways residents can help those suffering through conflict Plans are already in place to hold a second Oldham Peace Day event to celebrate International Peace Day in September Cllr Ur-Rehman continued: “These are all events shared by communities across Oldham irrespective of ethnicity or faith – and who ultimately want peace “It is great to have links with Mazara Del Vallo which is exemplary at promoting peace in Europe and this will enable us to learn how we can help promote peace in our communities and beyond.” attended the festival and delivered a letter of friendship and a gift from the Mayor of Oldham They also met with the Ambassador to the Pledge to Peace Back the borough’s peace campaign on Twitter by tweeting #PeaceOldham  20-meter fall from abandoned farmhouse marks tragic day for community A tragic accident shook the community of Mazara del Vallo when two boys fell from the roof of an abandoned farmhouse The episode occurred on the San Vito seafront they fell from a height of about 20 meters while his 13-year-old companion was immediately taken to hospital in critical condition Local authorities and emergency services responded quickly but sadly could not save the life of the older boy The news has sparked an outpouring of grief and disbelief among residents who have gathered to express their condolences and support for the families affected by this tragedy This incident raises questions about the safety of abandoned places which often become meeting points for young people seeking adventure Local authorities should consider more stringent measures to prevent access to dangerous structures It is essential that parents are aware of the risks associated with such places and talk to their children about safety The community is now called upon to consider how to protect young people and prevent future similar incidents Notizie.it is a newspaper registered with the Court of Milan n.68 on 01/03/2018 Impara come descrivere lo scopo dell'immagine (si apre in una nuova scheda) Lascia vuoto se l'immagine è puramente decorativa 14-year-old dies instantly after falling from a dangerous roof A game ended in tragedy that shattered two young lives Tragedy in Mazara del Vallo, a drama that shattered the life of a boy and left the other struggling for survival. Leonardo, 14enne, muore on the spot The two fell from the roof of an old abandoned farmhouse, a place that should have been just a corner of memories of the past but which today has taken on the face of an endless tragedy the boys had climbed onto the roof of the former distillery gave way under the weight of their curiosity A death and an injury that will change their families forever and now he is hospitalized at the “Di Cristina” hospital in Palermo with the municipal parking lot acting as its silent guardian The authorities are now investigating the causes the building represented only an illusion of adventure An adventure that led them to the edge of the precipice Leonardo's body remained in the former factory for hours The tragedy of Mazara del Vallo is not just a question of numbers of shattered dreams under a roof that gave way under the weight of a fatal curiosity A 20-meter fall caused the death of a boy and serious injuries to the other A dramatic accident has shaken the community of Mazara del Vallo where two teenagers fell from the roof of an abandoned farmhouse was taken to the hospital in critical condition the two boys had ventured into a dilapidated structure the covering suddenly gave way under their weight but the event left a deep mark on the community The news has sent shockwaves through residents of Mazara del Vallo many of whom have long complained about the presence of abandoned and unsafe buildings in the area Local authorities are now under pressure to address the problem of dilapidated buildings and ensure the safety of residents